Lighting unit



July 29, 1941. w. F. OVERBAGH LIGHTING UNIT Filed June 29, 1940- 2 A ORNEYSA Patented July 29, 1941 iTE STATES mt T OFFICE LIGHTING UNIT Application June 29, 1940, Serial No. 343,210

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a lighting fixture and more particularly to a novel lighting unit of the suspension type employing fluorescent lamps or elongated tubular lighting elements suitably mounted in a reflector in such manner as to give most efficient and optimum illiunination.

Among the novel features of the present invention is a novel combination and arrangement of a housing or hood and a reflector supported therefrom in such manner that the reflector may be quickly removed for cleaning, repair or replacement.

The present invention further relates to a novel bracket mounted on the housing or hood for receiving and temporarily retaining the lamps or lighting elements removed from the reflector when the latter is to be removed for cleaning and/or replacement. In its preferred embodiment, the invention comprehends mounting these brackets in pairs and in such manner that each pair is adapted to receive the opposite ends of the elongated lamps or lighting elements and thereby retain these elements until they are to be inserted or re-inserted into the lamp sockets in the reflector. In addition, these brackets are so hinged or pivoted that when not in use, they may be folded down upon the hood or housing.

A still further novel feature of the present invention resides in pivotally mounting the lamp sockets which receive the opposite ends of the lamps. In the illustrative embodiment, the fixture or unit is shown as equipped with two lamps and where such a dual unit is employed, I have found that most efficient illumination results when the lamps or tubular lighting elements are disposed on holders positioned at an angle of approximately 24 to the vertical. By mounting each socket on an arm pivotally or hingedly connected to a bracket supported in the housing or hood, and providing the reflector with openings in angularly arranged surfaces thereof adapted to receive the lamp holders when the reflector is assembled onto the housing, these holders are automatically positioned at their desired inclination.

Further objects are to provide a construction oi maximum simplicity, efliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and While I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

v In the drawing:

Fig. l is aview in perspective of the novel 1ighting unit.

Fig. 2 is a View in end elevation of the unit.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross section through the unit to show more clearly the novel manner of retaining the lamps upon the hood or housing; the novel method of supporting the reflector from this housing; the novel pivotal mounting of the lamp sockets, and in dotted outline, the reflector lowered and removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the housing or hood with the reflector removed and showing an end of one of the lamps retained upon the housing.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing, the novel embodiment selected to illustrate the invention comprises a hood or housing I having spaced hangers 2 adapted to be connected to and suspended from a ceiling or other support by means of chains or the like 3, although it is to be understood that conduits or other suitable means may be provided for supporting or suspending the lighting fixture.

Mounted upon the hood or housing in such manner that it may be readily assembled, removed and/or replaced, is a reflector 4 which may be of any desired shape or contour suitable for the purpose. In this particular embodiment, the reflector is so designed as to receive a pair of lamps or lighting elements 5 each having its one end carried in a lamp socket or holder 6 and its other end in a lamp holder starter socket 1. These lamp holders 6 and lamp holder starter sockets 'l are carried upon or supported from plates or arms 8 hanged at 9 to a bracket l0 suitably secured to the underside of the housing I. A switch II is removably or detachably mounted in the plates or arms 8 adjacent each starter socket l. The lamp holders 6, starter sockets l and switches II are connected through suitable wiring and electrical elements such as a ballast or choke coil I2 used for fluorescent lighting, in a manner well known in the art. These elements are supported and preferably enclosed in the housing so that the reflector may be quickly removed for cleaning or replacement without removal or interference with the electrical system.

The plates 8 are freely pivoted so that the members 6 and 1 may be readily received in openings or slots l3 provided in the upper undulated surface M of the reflector. These openings or slots are of such size and shape as to conform with the cross sectional shape of the sockets 6 and I, and are so placed in the upper surface l4 that when the reflector 4 is anchored in position on the lower face of the housing 2 by the bolts I5 and cap nuts 16, the members 6 and I automatically assume a position in which they are firmly but detachably mounted at an angle of approximately 24 with respect to the vertical and the lamps are retained in such spaced relation as to give optimum lighting effect.

In order to remove the reflector when the occasion arises, the lamps 5 must first be removed. As these lamps extend for substantially the complete extent of the reflector and have a length of approximately 18" to 48", they are difiicult and awkward to handle. Furthermore, they are relatively expensive and fragile and are frequently broken upon removal from their sockets or holders. The present invention comprehends a novel receptacle or mounting for the lamps in the form of spaced brackets l1 pivotally connected to the housing or hood I by a hinge I8. In the present illustrative embodiment of housing, there is provided an angularly arranged or inclined longitudinally extending surface [9 forming with the angularly arranged brackets II, a Well or depression for receiving the opposite ends of the lamps 5. To prevent longitudinal displacement of these lamps when in this position, the brackets are formed with projections or end extensions 20.

In the present form of invention, all of the wiring and electrical elements for energizing the lamps are supported in the housing or hood, whereby when the lamps 5 are removed and supported in the brackets I1, and cap nuts I6 are removed, the reflector may be quickly removed for cleaning or replacement.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a fluorescent lamp fixture having a housing and a detachable reflector for receiving elongated fluorescent lamps, brackets pivotally mounted upon the housing at spaced points for receiving the opposite ends of said lamps and retaining them when the reflector is to be removed for cleaning or replacement, and after which the lamps may again be mounted in the reflector and the brackets folded down upon the housing.

2. In a fluorescent lamp fixture having a housing and a reflector depending therefrom, supporting brackets pivotally mounted on the housing adjacent its upper edge for receiving and securely retaining the lamps when removed from the reflector, and when not in use, said brackets being swingable to a position where they are out of the way and substantially harmonize with the general outline of the fixture.

3. A lighting fixture of the type employing elongated lamps extending for approximately the length of the fixture, comprising a housing depending from a support, a reflector detach-ably mounted on said housing and provided with angularly arranged reflecting surfaces, means for supporting lamp sockets in the housing with said sockets depending through slots in the reflecting surfaces, and lamps adapted to be mounted in said sockets, said socket supporting means having pivotal means to permit alignment of said sockets with the slots and the automatic positioning and retention of said sockets in an angular relationship with respect to the vertical for optimum efficiency of the assembled fixture, and to permit ready lowering and removal of the reflector for disassembly after removal of the lamps.

WILLIAM F. OVERBAGH.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,2 1,02Lt, July 29, 19m.

WILLIAM F. OVERBAGH.

It is hereby oertified that'error appears in the printed epecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, sec- 0nd column, line Lpl, for the Word "hanged" read --hinged-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Pater 1t Office. I

Signedand sealed this 25rd day of September, A D. 19hl.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of, Patents. 

